Committee letter will take too long...what should I do?

The committee has a policy that late materials will delay the letter by 10 business days. I submitted 4 materials late. That's a delay of 40 business days! My school also has very big pre-health programs, so there are a lot of applicants.
From what I've read here, schools don't consider your application until the letters are in, and who knows when that might be? The committee says they'll send everything out by the end of September...isn't that too late?

What should I do? Wait it out? Or should I bug the professors to email the letters directly to AADSAS? (am confused).

Any suggestions would be most appreciated.

popolongato said:

The committee has a policy that late materials will delay the letter by 10 business days. I submitted 4 materials late. That's a delay of 40 business days! My school also has very big pre-health programs, so there are a lot of applicants.
From what I've read here, schools don't consider your application until the letters are in, and who knows when that might be? The committee says they'll send everything out by the end of September...isn't that too late?

What should I do? Wait it out? Or should I bug the professors to email the letters directly to AADSAS? (am confused).

Any suggestions would be most appreciated.

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yes thats late.... If this was me, I'd use the letters individually and prevent the application from being late.

If I remember correctly with Penn I was told the earliest they'd send everything out, even while having everything in on time, would be August. So I don't know, I think it's a tough call depending on how much you think your school's committee packet will help you.

popolongato said:

The committee has a policy that late materials will delay the letter by 10 business days. I submitted 4 materials late. That's a delay of 40 business days! My school also has very big pre-health programs, so there are a lot of applicants.
From what I've read here, schools don't consider your application until the letters are in, and who knows when that might be? The committee says they'll send everything out by the end of September...isn't that too late?

What should I do? Wait it out? Or should I bug the professors to email the letters directly to AADSAS? (am confused).

Any suggestions would be most appreciated.

Click to expand...

If its by september, then you might as well give up this cycle and apply the next, unless you have something like a 3.7+ 23-25+. Your app will most likely be completed/mailed out by November which is way way way to late. You should bug professors for single recs.

So if I bug my professors about submitting to AADSAS...and say I get the two of them to submit (I'm not sure if I can get my dentist to resubmit it though), will my application be considered complete?

I've filled out the evaluation section on my application for a committee letter -- if that doesn't get there but 3 single letters do, will schools consider my application on time?

Thank you for your help, your suggestions are highly appreciated!

I am in the same situation. My committee has given me the deadline that all letters will be done by September 1. The only thing my application is missing now is a the committee rec letter and my DAT score. My DAT is scheduled for July 25. Should I say with the committee letter or just get individual letters?

Thanks!

popolongato said:

So if I bug my professors about submitting to AADSAS...and say I get the two of them to submit (I'm not sure if I can get my dentist to resubmit it though), will my application be considered complete?

I've filled out the evaluation section on my application for a committee letter -- if that doesn't get there but 3 single letters do, will schools consider my application on time?

Thank you for your help, your suggestions are highly appreciated!

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General Rule of Thumb Regarding LOR:

2 Science (bio+chem) + 1 Dentist LOR will satisfy most schools LOR requirements. You don't necessarily need 4, and schools will consider your APP complete once they have the minimum,(3) and not the maximum (4). Again this depends on schools you are applying to; however, most schools only need 3.

General Rule of Thumb Regarding APP completion:

Early: June-Mid July
Middle/Average: Mid July-Mid August
Late: Late August/September Onwards.

Chances diminish significantly if you are late, period. If your committee will submit in September, then you STILL have to wait for your letter to get mailed out. Which means schools won't get a complete app til Late Sept/Early Nov which is the worst possible scenario.

Personally, I got quite a few interviews (10) for my app cycle. I would say that if I applied Late I would of gotten NO pre-december interviews which is important. Why are pre-dec interviews important? Because the class is all open. Once dec 1 rolls around spots get filled and it gets increasingly harder to land an open spot, and if you do, you will end most likely on the dreaded waitlist. Also I would guess-timate that I would probably end up 2-3 interviews ALL TOGETHER post december or maybe none. Consider that versus 10 interviews due to early/average submission. If your stats are average and not spectacular its in your best interest to do whatever it takes to get those LORs in. I was in the same situation with one LOR who said he would finish in Mid August. I dropped him asap and found one that did it in a few days.

It's your future life you are talking about, and earliness really does make a huge huge huge difference.

Dont some schools "highly recommend" a committee letter though? and its looked badly upon if you have a committee but didnt use it?!?!
i have the same problem- my LORs probably wont be out until august....

JustwantDDS said:

Dont some schools "highly recommend" a committee letter though? and its looked badly upon if you have a committee but didnt use it?!?!
i have the same problem- my LORs probably wont be out until august....

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1)How would schools know that your program/school has a committee letter? They literally receive thousands of apps from all known colleges in the U.S. plus other countries.

2) Why would they penalize you for preference? To be honest, I would rather go to single LOR way as its more personalized.

3) I guess to each his own, but I seriously suggest getting everything out (not TURNED IN but MAILED OUT) by at least Mid August.

We have all heard the students who have the 3.4 20+ story that didn't get in. In my opinion, the story stems from applying late. A 3.4 20+ is a sure to get in, but if you apply late you can call it quits. I shudder to think the chances of below 3.4 and a 18-19 chance at post august.

Hmm, I guess I'll wait until late-July or so and if the committee letter still isn't in I'll started begging my professors for it. I'd hate to do it, but it's a matter of time, money and my future.

Well for example, Maryland, states on their website that they strong recommend a comm. letter- and i went to undergrad in MD, i'm sure they know that my school has a committee due to the...many apps/years theyve been getting apps from my UG school u know?
maybe other schools dont, but its kind of the norm, or at least i thought it was the norm to have a pre health comm at ur university.
when my state school [MD] prefers a comm letter.....what can i do????

Rainee said:

1)How would schools know that your program/school has a committee letter? They literally receive thousands of apps from all known colleges in the U.S. plus other countries.

2) Why would they penalize you for preference? To be honest, I would rather go to single LOR way as its more personalized.

3) I guess to each his own, but I seriously suggest getting everything out (not TURNED IN but MAILED OUT) by at least Mid August.

We have all heard the students who have the 3.4 20+ story that didn't get in. In my opinion, the story stems from applying late. A 3.4 20+ is a sure to get in, but if you apply late you can call it quits. I shudder to think the chances of below 3.4 and a 18-19 chance at post august.

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JustwantDDS said:

Well for example, Maryland, states on their website that they strong recommend a comm. letter- and i went to undergrad in MD, i'm sure they know that my school has a committee due to the...many apps/years theyve been getting apps from my UG school u know?
maybe other schools dont, but its kind of the norm, or at least i thought it was the norm to have a pre health comm at ur university.
when my state school [MD] prefers a comm letter.....what can i do????

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If you want to bet all your chips into that school then hey go for it. Just don't be surprised if you get no pre-dec interviews and or very few interviews post-dec. Earliness is key. Mid August Submission/Early Sept mail out kills your chances if you have below average stats.

Edit: Taken from a another thread: "If you want to apply that late, just know there is around 3000-5000 people ahead of you" -_-

Rainee said:

If you want to bet all your chips into that school then hey go for it. Just don't be surprised if you get no pre-dec interviews and or very few interviews post-dec. Earliness is key. Mid August Submission/Early Sept mail out kills your chances if you have below average stats.

Edit: Taken from a another thread: "If you want to apply that late, just know there is around 3000-5000 people ahead of you" -_-

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yeah i totally understand but im just freaking out bc i thought u had to have committee letters when u had a comm at ur school
and now that MD says this im just like?!?!?!?
i dont wana put all my eggs in one basket but im also super pissed that committees are doing this to students.....and i dont know whether i should let it go or what

is it possible to send my LORs to my schools AND a committee letter? lol
so that they can get the ball rolling or something????